An Iranian flag flutters in the wind as ships remain anchored on May 16, 2026 in the Strait of Hormuz near Larak Island, Iran.
Majid Saeedi | Getty Images News | Getty Images
U.S. forces conducted "self defense" strikes in southern Iran early Tuesday, with U.S. Central Command saying the military action was to "protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces."
CENTCOM spokesman Tim Hawkins said targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines.
"U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire," Hawkins added.
The action comes as U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday stateside that the talks with Iran were "proceeding nicely." However, he warned that "it will only be a Great Deal for all or, no Deal at all," threatening to take things "Back to the Battlefront and shooting, but bigger and stronger than ever before."
Fox News, citing senior U.S. officials on Monday said that the Iran deal was "95% there."
In a separate Truth Social post, the U.S. President said Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium will be "immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed," destroyed in Iran or "at another acceptable location."
Tehran has not signaled any willingness to allow its stockpile of uranium to be destroyed, nor taken to the U.S.
This is not the first time that military action has happened after a ceasefire was reached between Washington and Tehran on April 8.
Separately, the U.S. President has also urged Arab nations to sign the Abraham Accords, which would normalize relations with Israel.
However, Pakistan has roundly rejected the demand, with a source telling Reuters that "two issues were "not interlinked and cannot be made so."
Oil prices were mixed on Tuesday morning, with U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures down about 5% at $91.87 per barrel, but international benchmark Brent was up 2.14% at $98.2.
Speaking to CNBC, Chen Lanhee, partner at advisory firm Brunswick told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" that a majority of the American public are saying that they just want the war to be over.
"It doesn't matter what Iran does or doesn't have, it doesn't matter what the contours of the deal are. They just want the war over to bring petrol or gas prices down," Chen pointed out.
English (US) · 